Garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A garment hanger comprises a first support for hanging the garment hanger, a second support provided for the placement of garments, an information marker holder extending between the first and second supports for the placement of an information marker thereon, a web provided between the first and second supports and extending in a direction toward the information marker holder, and at least one raised member extending across the web for preventing finger purchase of an information marker when such information marker is attached to the information marker holder.

[0001] This application is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 29/157,009 filed Mar. 12, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to hangers generally, and more particularly to hangers having removal-resistant information tabs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Garment hangers with information markers or tabs are known. Such information markers are used to associate a hanger with a particularly sized garment, i.e., small, medium, large, extra large and so on. The distinguishing features on the markers may be words that designate a size, or a different color used for each size, or a combination of words and colors as the case may be.

[0004] For ease of manufacture and assembly, an information marker is usually shaped like a clip that is slipped onto an information marker holder formed on the hanger. The information marker is secured to the information marker holder usually through a combination of the design of the information marker holder and the information marker. In other words, barriers are designed into the hanger near the attachment location of the information marker to prevent a so-called “finger purchase” of the information marker, which would allow someone to easily remove the information marker from the hanger.

[0005] Much effort has been directed to designing hangers and information markers that are child-resistant, wherein the information marker is difficult to remove by a child without at least the use of a tool. Because the information markers are relatively small and usually brightly colored, there is always a concern that a child will attempt to remove an information marker from a hanger and swallow and/or choke on the same. Thus, there is a need to insure that a hanger designed to accommodate an information marker is designed to prevent inadvertent or unintentional removal of the information marker. The present inventors have fulfilled such need with the unique hanger design of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] A garment hanger comprises a first support for hanging the garment hanger, a second support provided for the placement of garments, an information marker holder extending between the first and second supports for the placement of an information marker thereon, a web provided between the first and second supports and extending in a direction toward the information marker holder, and at least one raised member extending across the web for preventing finger purchase of an information marker when such information marker is attached to the information marker holder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a front view thereof.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a right side view thereof.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a front view thereof with an information marker installed thereon.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a front view of an alternative embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a front view of a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of yet a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The following detailed description is of the best mode or modes of the invention presently contemplated. Such description is not intended to be understood in a limiting sense, but to be an example of the invention presented solely for illustration thereof, and by reference to which in connection with the following description and the accompanying drawings one skilled in the art may be advised of the advantages and construction of the invention. In the various views of the drawings, like reference characters designate like or similar parts.

[0016] FIGS. 1-4 illustrate one embodiment of a garment hanger 50 of the present invention comprising a first preferably hook-shaped support 60 having a free end 62 and a base 64, and a second support 70 having a pair of second support arms 72 and 74. The first support 60 is provided for hanging said garment hanger 50 from a closet rod (not shown), wall hook (not shown) or the like, while the second support 70 is provided for support garments thereon. A web 80 is defined between said first and second supports 60, 70 respectively and is preferably bounded between an upper surface 66 defined along said first support 60, a lower surface 76 defined along said second support 70 and an intersection 82 defined between said first and second supports 60, 70 near the base 64 of the first support 60. An information marker holder 90 extends between said first and second supports 60, 70 for supporting an information marker 100 (FIG. 4) thereon and, in the embodiments shown in the figures provided herein, is spaced from the web 80 by a gap 110, which gap 110 is bounded by the upper and lower surfaces 66, 76 of the first and second supports 60, 70, and edges 84, 94 of the web 80 and information marker holder 90 respectively. The presence of a gap 110 between the web 80 and information marker holder 90 is not a critical feature of the present invention, but is merely reflective of the embodiments described herein. For instance, the garment hanger of the present invention could be configured so that the web terminates at the information marker holder as is known in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,583 to Zuckerman).

[0017] The discussion above reflects the basic elements of prior art hangers having information marker holders. Using FIGS. 1-4 as an example, in prior art hangers, once the information marker 100, usually in the shape of a clip, is attached to the information marker holder 90, the edge 84 of the web 80 is configured to prevent finger purchase of the free ends (not shown) of the information marker 100. This is usually accomplished by providing a raised ridge (not shown) along the edge 84 of the web 80 on each side of the hanger 50, which prevents access to the edges of the information marker 100 (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,101 to Norman et al.). Such raised ridge (not shown) usually extends along the edge 80 from the first support 60 to the second support 70 along the same direction as the information marker holder 90, and is usually positioned parallel to the information marker holder 90.

[0018] In the garment hanger of the present invention as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-8, at least one raised member 120 (FIGS. 1-4) is provided on the web 80 extending across the web 80 and preferably in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the information marker holder 90. In other words, the at least one raised member 120 extends in a direction from the base 64 of the first support 60, or the intersection 82 of the first and second supports 60, 70, toward the information marker holder 90. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4, the raised member 120 extends from the lower surface 76 of the second support 70 (near the intersection 82) to the edge 84 of the web 80 on either side of the hanger 50 (FIG. 3). Since an information marker 100 is usually clipped around both sides of the information marker holder 90, it preferable to have a raised member 120 on both sides of the web 80 as shown in FIG. 3. The termination of the raised member 120 along the edge 84 of the web 80 functions to prevent a finger purchase of an information marker 100 attached to the information marker holder 90, at least along the center of the web 80. For purposes of illustrating the remaining embodiments, it will be understood that the raised member(s) are provided on at least one, and preferably both sides of the described garment hangers.

[0019]FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a garment hanger 52 of the present invention, wherein two raised members 130, 140 extend along the web 80 toward the information marker holder 90 to prevent finger purchase of an information marker (see FIG. 4) secured thereto. Raised member 130 extends from the upper surface 66 of the first support 60 to the edge 84 of the web 80, while raised member 140 extends from the lower surface 76 of the second support 70 to the edge 84 of the web 80. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the raised members 130, 140 are situated in a generally parallel configuration and are both substantially perpendicular to the information marker holder 90. The plurality of raised members 130, 140 prevent a finger purchase of an information marker at least along the upper and lower sections of the web 80.

[0020]FIG. 6 illustrates a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger 54 of the present invention, wherein three raised members 150, 160 and 170 extend along the web 80 toward the information marker holder 90 to prevent finger purchase of an information marker (see FIG. 4) secured thereto. Raised member 150 extends from the upper surface 66 of the first support 60 to the edge 84 of the web 80, raised member 160 extends from the intersection 82 to the edge 84 of the web and raised member 170 extends from the lower surface 76 of the second support 70 to the edge 84 of the web 80. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the raised members 150, 160 and 170 are also situated in a generally parallel configuration and are substantially perpendicular to the information marker holder 90. The plurality of raised members 160, 170 and 180 prevent a finger purchase of an information marker along a majority of the edge 84 of the web 80.

[0021]FIG. 7 illustrates yet a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger 56 of the present invention, wherein three raised members 180, 190 and 200 extend along the web 80 toward the information marker holder 90 to prevent finger purchase of an information marker (see FIG. 4) secured thereto. Each of said three raised members 180, 190 and 200 extends at a different angle relative to the intersection 82 between the first and second supports 60, 70. Raised member 180 extends substantially parallel to the upper surface 66 of the first support, raised member 200 extends substantially parallel to the lower surface 76 of the second support 70 and raised member 190 extends substantially perpendicular to the information marker holder 90. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, each of the raised members 180, 190 and 200 extends between an origin region 210 and the edge 84 of the web 80.

[0022]FIG. 8 illustrates yet a further alternative embodiment of a garment hanger 58 of the present invention, wherein an asterisk-shaped raised member 220 extends along the web 80 to prevent finger purchase of an information marker (see FIG. 4) secured to the information marker holder 90. Raised member 220 is provided with arms 221-226 that originate near the center of the web 80 and extend to the upper and lower surfaces 66, 76 of the first and second supports 60, 70 and the edge 84 of the web 80. Of course, while six arms are illustrated, more arms or fewer arms may be provided as desired.

[0023] While the present invention has been described at some length and with some particularity with respect to the several described embodiments, it is not intended that it should be limited to any such particulars or embodiments or any particular embodiment, but it is to be construed with references to the appended claims so as to provide the broadest possible interpretation of such claims in view of the prior art and, therefore, to effectively encompass the intended scope of the invention. For instance, which various configurations of raised members are illustrated, it will be understood that other configurations are contemplated to prevent figure purchase of an information marker secured to an information marker holder. Furthermore, the foregoing describes the invention in terms of embodiments foreseen by the inventor for which an enabling description was available, notwithstanding that insubstantial modifications of the invention, not presently foreseen, may nonetheless represent equivalents thereto. 

I claim:
 1. A garment hanger comprising: a) a first support provided for hanging said garment hanger and having a free end and a base, b) a second support attached to said base of said first support and provided for supporting garments on said garment hanger, c) an information marker holder extending between said first and second supports and provided to support an information marker thereon, d) a web provided between said first and second supports and extending in a direction from said base of said first support toward said information marker holder, and e) at least one raised member extending across said web in a direction from said base of said first support toward said information marker holder for preventing a finger purchase of an information marker when an information marker is attached to said information marker holder.
 2. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first support is shaped as a hook.
 3. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said web and said information marker holder are separated by a gap.
 4. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of raised members extending across said web.
 5. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of raised member are arranged in a parallel formation.
 6. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of raised members extend across said web at different angles relative to said base of said first support.
 7. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein said plurality of raised members are arranged in an asterisk formation.
 8. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 4, wherein at least one raised member extends between said first and second supports.
 9. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, wherein said web extends between a first surface defined along said first support, a second surface defined along said second support and an intersection between said first and second supports.
 10. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one raised member extends from said intersection toward said information marker holder.
 11. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one raised member extends from said first surface toward said information marker holder.
 12. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 9, wherein said at least one raised member extends from said second surface toward said information marker holder.
 13. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a plurality of raised members, and wherein at least one raised member extends from said first surface toward said information marker holder.
 14. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 13, wherein at least one raised member extends from said second surface toward said information marker holder.
 15. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 14, wherein at least one raised member extends from said intersection toward said information marker holder.
 16. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an information marker for attachment to said information marker holder.
 17. A garment hanger comprising: a) a first support provided for hanging said garment hanger and having a free end and a base, b) a second support attached to said base of said first support and provided for supporting garments on said garment hanger, c) an information marker holder extending in a first direction between said first and second supports and provided to support an information marker thereon, d) a web provided between said first and second supports and extending in a direction from said base of said first support toward said information marker holder, and e) at least one raised member extending across said web in a second direction different from said first direction for preventing a finger purchase of an information marker when an information marker is attached to said information marker holder.
 18. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 17, wherein said second direction is substantially perpendicular to said first direction.
 19. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 17, further comprising a plurality of raised members.
 20. A garment hanger in accordance with claim 19, wherein at least one of said raised members extends in said first direction. 